5 Strategies for a Successful Doctor Visit

Good physician-patient communication is critical to good healthcare, and it all starts in the doctor’s office. This is where you, as a patient, give and get information, all in the name of staying well or getting better.

Many health experts say that for the relationship to be successful, it must work as a partnership. For the patient, that means being an active participant in the exam room by asking questions, being upfront about personal matters, and understanding and following directions carefully. Here’s how to make the most of your next doctor’s visit.

1. Prepare

Think about the health concerns you have and decide what you want to address. It’s also good to write things down and bring the notes to the visit, the National Institute on Aging recommends. Things to jot down include:

• Any questions you want to ask. Be sure to prioritize them in case you run out of time during your visit. (You can follow up with another member of the doctor’s staff or at your next appointment if the matter is not pressing.)

• The names and doses of any prescription and over-the-counter medicines you take. Don’t forget the vitamins, supplements, and herbal and natural products you take as well.

• A list of symptoms you may be having including any pain, or trouble sleeping or walking. Don’t attribute such symptoms to simple aging; there usually is a reason for them.

2. Be practical and methodical

Patient care experts advise bringing a family member or friend who can help you remember what is said during the visit. Keep in mind that you can still have private time with your physician. Take notes during the visit or have your friend do it for you. Or, ask if you can bring a tape recorder to record what the doctor is saying, suggests FamilyDoctor.org.

Bring any test results or X-rays your doctor needs to see. But also note that these days, with much of our health records kept electronically, your physician may have easy computer access to such results. (Check with the office.)

3. Be honest

Let’s face it: It can be embarrassing to discuss certain personal aspects of our health. But issues like bladder control, sexual health, memory loss, or fear of falling are important, quality-of-life matters your doctor can help you address and resolve, the National Institute on Aging says. Your smoking and drinking habits and other lifestyle practices that affect your health are, too. Your doctor can’t help you if he or she doesn’t know what is going on.

It’s also important to tell your doctor about any major life changes that have occurred that can stress the body such as a divorce, the death of a loved one, or whether you’ve moved. And if a caregiver or family member is mistreating you, your doctor can help.

4. Ask questions

Asking questions and understanding the answers is critical to how you’ll manage your treatment and make decisions about your health. If you don’t ask your doctor questions, he or she will assume you understand everything and don’t need any more information. The National Institute on Aging recommends asking:

• What to expect regarding any diagnosis, how you will manage it, and whether your condition will worsen.

• Whether you should see a specialist or go to the hospital emergency room and why.

• What side effects you should expect from any medications; whether you have to avoid certain foods, drinks, and other medications while taking them; and when you can go off the medicine.

5. Get it in writing

Following written instructions can be easier than trying to remember what your doctor told you. That’s why taking notes during your visit or having someone do it for you is so important. Check your notes in the waiting room after your visit and make sure you understand what you’ve written. If you have any follow-up questions, check with other staff members at the practice or call back, FamilyDoctor.org advises.

Asking your doctor to write down instructions is helpful as well, as is reading patient education materials or consulting a website your doctor recommends. A good way of ensuring you understand what your doctor has said or written is to restate it to him or her.